Old Speckled Hen Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Has anybody grown these. It's pretty cold up here in Cumbria so I thought I might try growing these in a bucket so I could pop them into the greenhouse if the weather was bad. Anybody know anything about growing them? Thanks a lot Dani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Hm, the only thing I know is that they grow quite deep and the tubers grow a long way from the plant and they need it to be quite warm. I found this reply to a thread in the allotment forum (scroll down to Leonnies post) http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3037&highlight=kumara Hope it's useful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I don't know a great deal about these and they don't seem to be covered in my books They did try to grow them on Gardeners World in the last series so you coud try their homepage I don't honestly thinka bucket will be big enough for them though, I'd go for something at least a couple of feet across and the same in depth if you possibly can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fowlbird Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I've been growing them in old compost bags against a south facing wall - the tubers were small but way tastier than bought ones I used slips from supermarket ones thanks for that link, Snowy Howells, I've bookmarked it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I grew some a couple of summers ago. We bought an organic (non-organic ones are treated to prevent sprouting) sweet potato from the supermarket and kept it on the kitchen window ledge until it began to sprout. We then planted it in a pot with about a third of the tubor buried and the sprouts pointing upwards. When the sprouts are about 4 inches long break them away carefully from the tubor trying not to damage the heel where they join on, then put them in a shallow jam jar of water and put somewhere warm and light until roots appear. When they have rooted pot them up and keep them warm (at least 20 degrees) They will start to grow rapidly when they are regularly getting temperatures of 24 degrees or more. They ideally need these sorts of temperatures to succeed, I did grow mine outdoors a couple of years back when it was quite a warm summer and I got about 10 good sized tubors and quite a few small ones from about 3 plants. You will probably need a greenhouse unless we have an exceptional summer. The foliage grows very rapidly when they have the right conditions ( they are not part of the potato family, they are related to bindweed ) and it helps tubor production to trim it back from time to time. They need a long season so start with your tubor in March/April indoors with a view to getting them into their final positions in June. They are ready to harvest late September/October when the foliage starts to discolour and die back. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 Thanks everybody. You've given me enough encouragement to give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Me too! Meet you back here in September to compare notes DA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 Me too! Meet you back here in September to compare notes DA You have a date Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 My organic supermarket potato has refused to sprout/chit so I have ordered some slips from Thompson and Morgan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 17, 2009 Author Share Posted June 17, 2009 They came at last! I put them in water for a few days (T&M said a few hours but I forgot them) whereupon they grew lots of extra roots. Then wrapped carefully in the Daily Mail These are on the windowsill in the conservatory for two weeks then being planted out into old compost bags, two in the garden and one in the greenhouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 You will find that they suddenly start to grow like mad if the temperature rises above 22 degrees, they love it hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 You will find that they suddenly start to grow like mad if the temperature rises above 22 degrees, they love it hot. Thanks for that, will give it a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fowlbird Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I'd forgotten about this thread - think I'll give it a try again this summer now that I'm more settled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I tried again last year not a good summer to do it. I may have another go this year I got tiny ones last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
